The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1887-03-30
THE PnINoE OF the cHURoH.
How the Red Hat of the Cardinalate is
BESTOWED Upon tho Select.


bestowed Upon the Select.
The elevation of the American Arch
bishop Gibbons to the position of Cardi-
nal Of the Roman Catholic Church a
year ago, and the impressive ceremony
which took place at Rome last week are
notable events in the religious history of
this country. The new cardinal, an
adopted son OF the South, possesses, to
the highest degree, the respect and
esteem of all sects, and the brief de-
scription now given of the proceedings
Of the ConSistory ut which the red hat
was bestowed upon him will prove inter
esting.
The ceremonial wa held in the main
hall of the Vatican in front of the Papal
Throne. In semi-circular form around
this vas arranged the chairs Tor the
Cardinals, presenting Il scene picturesque
in the extreme. The auditory was
thronged with Il favored assembly, adj
mitted by cards, and made up of the
most noted people in the Holy City.
The Pope, clad in white, with q face
beaming with benevolence, gave much
strength to tho Church's claim of the
Nicarship in its spiritual head. Before
the Consistory opened, the oath was adj
mlnistCred to scvcn Cardinals, conspicu-
Il among whom was Cardinal Gibbons.
hen the doors of the private chamber
were opened and the procession entered
the main hall, passing the throne with
bowed heads and uttcring Il prayer suit
able to the occasion.
The papal chair used upon all such
occasions is modelled after the chair OF
the ancient Roman Senator, commemor-
ativc of the chair presented to ST. Peter
hy tho Snnnfnp DaInuc ,IlNnn hic ION
version to Christianity. In front, be-
hind and on either side of the Pope were
the Noble Guard. The f~labebclli, or tall
ostrich plumcs, wCro carried beside the
canopy. The Pope, looking pale and
feeble, after being seated on the throne,
raised his right arm trcmblingly and
gave his blessing.
Following are the names of the new
cardinals: Cardinal Gonzales came first,
followed by Cardinals Bcrnadou, MAJ
celia and Giordani, in the order named.
Cardinal Gibbons's sponsors were Car
dinals Mcichers and MazZclla. AS pre-
scntcd each cardinal made his three
obcisancos, then knclt and kissed the
cross on the Popc's slipper and next his
hand, in token of humiliation and obc-
dicncc.
The seven new ecclesiastical princes
now approached the throne in the order
that had been assigned them. The man
telletta or short red cape of each was
drawn up over the shoulders and gath
cred about the head, and as he knelt at
the foot OF the Pope Il master of cerc.
monies held above his head the broad,
red tasselcd hat. Then the Pope, lean.
ing forward, held his hands outsprcad
above the kneeling figure while he utter
ed a prayer III Latin.
After the prayer each newly made
Cardinal was embraced by the Pope and
when he had embraced all his colleagues
he proceeded to the chair which had
been assigned him and took his seat,
Wearing his berctta, all the other Cardi-
nails remaining standing and uncovered,
the idea thus illustrated being that the
new prince of the church, having re-
ccivcd his hat from the hands of the
Pope, had become the equal Of all the
others. When the last of the seven had
made the tour of the semicirclc the Pope
rose and gave his pontiiical blessing to
priests and people, after which he was
escorted from the hall and into the hall
of the paramonti by all the Cardinals.
Cardinal Gibbons received many con.
gratulatory kilograms and heaps OF
flowers.